Camping behind the Hilltop Market worked out nicely. I was right there this morning to get some breakfast. 2 donuts and some OJ.
It is going to another sunny day of riding. An amazing day to be exact. No wind and warm.
If I though my legs were tired yesterday as I started today they screamed at me. I had to invoke one of Jens Voigt’s (a retired racer from Germany who has many great quotes) great sayings today. “Shut Up Legs!” I am not quite sure they heard me. They would make it though. Today was going to be a “moderately” short day. Less than 60 miles to Raquette Lake.
My legs were screaming at me this morning because I was going to ride into the Adirondacks. The hills leading into this beautiful area of New York were short but STEEP. I used some pretty low gearing to tackle them.
To get there, I followed the Moose River for most of the morning.
The Moose River Road ended in the “town” of McKeever where I planned to have lunch. It turns out that McKeever is nothing more than a point on a map. No services at all. So I had to ride another 9 miles to Thendara to look for lunch. Thendara and the neighboring town of Old Forge are in the heart of the Adirondacks and the Sunday tourist activity was all you needed to know that it was a fact.
I have to admit that it is really nice here. The roads are in great condition, the scenery is amazing, and the weather is perfect. It is a really a fantastic day to be riding.
And there is just a hint of the beginning of the fall foliage to come that is the hallmark of the area. I am not sure I will get to see it in all of its red, yellow, and orange glory, but maybe as I get a little more north into Maine I will get to see it. That would be the icing on the cake.
Leaving Old Forge, I began a trek along a string of lakes that would lead to Raquette Lake and my campground. I was a little disappointed with the lack of imagination for some of the names of some of the lakes though. First Lake, Second Lake, all the way up to Ejghth Lake. Really, was that the best they could do? But there are a lot of lakes though. Got to give them that much.
I finally got to Raquette Lake around 4:30. A pretty reasonable time to quit. Except the campground was closed! I think for general maintenance, but closed none the less. It would now be another 9 miles to Blue Mountain Lake to camp. Still a reasonable time to quit at 5:15, but a longer day.
I am beginning to wonder if there ever will be a short day. My legs might have something to say about that. Vermont is getting closer by the day and there is some serious climbing in Vermont. True mountains and four major climbs, the highest one a 2,500 foot climb to go over. It will be fun, but a challenge. Really though, I cannot wait to see them. But maybe after a short day!